News & Updates

This summer, our week ending concert will be back at East Hartford Middle School. This is a great concert facility in central CT; our 2013 concert was held at this venue. The concert is on Friday July 3rd at 7PM. EHMS is located at 777 Burnside Avenue East Hartford CT 06108.

We still have some instrumentation needs to fill out our ensembles: - TUBAS!!! (we know you are out there!)- Trombone- Tenor and Bari Sax- Clarinet- Male Voices (Tenor/Bass)- ALL ORCHESTRAL STRINGS!!!

If you haven't had a chance to register yet OR you have a friend that plays one of these instruments, GET ON IT! Sign up over at our REGISTRATION PAGE!

Hey Camp! Less than two months until camp! We hope you're just as excited as we are :) Today we are taking a closer look at this summer's orchestra conductor: Dr. Dan D'Addio!

Daniel D’Addio currently serves as Professor of Music in the Department of Music at Central Connecticut State University where he teaches trumpet, chamber music, and courses in music theory. As a conductor, he is Artistic Director of the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra and Music Director of the Connecticut Youth Symphony. We love Dr. Dan, and we're so excited to have him back at Laurel! For all you string players out there, playing with Dr. Dan is a HUGE treat and a great opportunity! Here's our Q&A with him:

What is your main instrument?Trumpet

What is your favorite instrument?My daughter's instrument – Cello!

What is my favorite European Country?Austria. I lived there for a year as a Fulbright Scholar. Don't ask when – it was a long time ago!

What is the first thing you do upon arriving at camp?Plug in my Latte/Cappuccino Maker in the Conductor's Cabin!

What is your favorite color of bug juice?I have been told it's blue. Is that right? ;)

What was your favorite performance as an instrumentalist/singer?Playing the first classical music concert at Toad's Place in New Haven. Again don't ask when – it was a long time ago!What's the best advice anyone has given you as an educator and/or conductor?Never give up!

Name an interesting non-music hobby/interest.Watching my daughter participate in horse riding shows. Playing with my Black Labrador Retrievers, Jack and Reba! (Dr. Dan is training Jack to be a certified therapy dog!) Watching the New York Mets! Another interesting tidbit... I graduated from both The Ohio State University and The University of Michigan. You would think that everyone would like me. But alas, I get grief from both sides. I love my schools! Go Bucks! Go Blue!

What is your favorite band/orchestra/jazz/choral piece?"Nimrod" from the Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar

Thanks Dr. Dan!!!!! We can't wait to make music with you!! Campers: don't forget to get registered over at our website: CLICK HERE!

Hey Camp Family! Today we showcase our guest conductor for the smallest performing group we have at camp: the Jazz Band. Gary Blumberg, or Gary Blu for short, is one cool cat and can't wait to work with all of the future campers in the Jazz Shack.

Gary has a degree in Music Composition from SUNY Binghamton and took graduate courses in commercial arranging and audio engineering at The New School. He worked as an assistant arranger at New York Rock & Soul Revue, as well as working as the music copyist for all of the Steely Dan tours. He performs and records with many local artists and big bands and also opened Rancho Cucamonga Studio, where he produces and records local songwriters.

Here is our Q&A with Gary:

What is your main instrument?Flutes and saxophones

What is the first thing you do upon arriving at camp?Breathe deep, take in all the magic that is Laurel, hug Bill Glenister, Bridget, then everyone else.

What is your favorite color of bug juice?Um, well, let's see... Blue!

What's the best advice anyone has given you as an educator and/or conductor?Listen!

Name an interesting non-music hobby/interestGolf

What is your favorite band/orchestra/jazz/choral piece?Whatever is being rehearsed at the Jazz shack.

Name one funky tune that every wanna be jazzer should listen to to get pumped up for campI would have to say that "What is Hip?" has been synonymous with the LMC Jazz Band even before my tenure, and it's a staple with DJ Vjskuss (AKA Will Valenti).